Susan & Robert Wislow
Susan and Robert Wislow are philanthropists based in Chicago, Illinois. They operate the Susan and Robert Wislow Charitable Foundation, a private foundation established in 1987 that supports charitable causes primarily in Illinois and New York. The foundation does not conduct direct charitable activities but rather makes grants to nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16K
-54.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$263K
+15.5% YoY
Grant Count
23
+15.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+0.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Susan & Robert Wislow reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
- Arts and culture
- Civic institutions
Recent grants demonstrate support for major cultural institutions and educational organizations, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Goodman Theatre, and North Central College.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois and New York, with a particular emphasis on the Chicago area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Foundation Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $15,544
- Total revenues: $251,681
- Total expenses: $270,075
- Number of employees: 0
Previous Year (2023):
- Total assets: $33,938
- Total giving: $227,600
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,544 | $33,938 | $16,962 |
| Revenue | $251,681 | $251,052 | $300,011 |
| Expenses | $270,075 | $234,076 | $428,044 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $262,874 | $227,600 | $421,450 |
| Net Investment Income | $901 | $272 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $1,722 | $2,083 | $4,569 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
125 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($75,000), Goodman Theatre ($35,000), North Central College ($27,750).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN WRITERS MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,600 |
| ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| CEDILLE CHICAGO NFP CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $75,000 |
| CHICAGO YOUTH CENTERS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $259 |
| CIVIC CONSULTING ALLIANCE CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| COLUMBIA COLLEGE-MOCP DARKROOM CONTRIBUTION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| EPILEPSY FOUNDATION CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $515 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Susan Wislow:
- Founder of Corporate Relocation Coordinators
- Former elementary school physical education teacher in Chicago Public Schools
- Board member: Erikson Institute, Goodman Theatre Women's Board, Chicago Children's Museum
- Recognized for her work advancing education and the arts in the Chicago community
Robert Wislow:
- Co-founder of U.S. Equities Realty (1978), which grew to become Chicago's largest privately-owned commercial real estate services firm
- Served as CBRE Chicago Chairman (2015-2019) following the firm's merger with CBRE in 2014
- Co-founder of Parkside Realty (2019)
- Leadership roles include:
- Chairman, Chicago Public Library Foundation
- Chairman, Rush University Board
- Chairman, Museum of Contemporary Photography
- Board Member, Columbia College Chicago
- Chairman, The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT WISLOW | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | — | — |
| SUSAN WISLOW | VP/SECY | — | — |
| SHERI ZOELLER | VP | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In November 2024, Susan and Robert Wislow received the Distinguished Philanthropists Award at the 48th Annual Philanthropy Awards, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Chicago. The award recognized their decades-long dedication to uplifting the Chicago community through generous support of various causes.
US Department of Labor's OSHA awards $2.75 million in Susan Harwood TargetedIn February 2026, Robert Wislow was named interim CEO of the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Susan & Robert Wislow fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Science and STEM education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking • Human services • Arts and culture • Civic institutions Recent grants demonstrate support for major cultural institutions and educational organizations, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Goodman Theatre, and North Central College.
How do I apply for a grant from Susan & Robert Wislow?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 33 grants in 2024 • Typical grant awards range from $100 to $125,600 • Recent notable grants include: • Chicago Symphony Orchestra: $75,000 (2024) • Goodman Theatre: $35,000 (2024) • North Central College: $27,750 (2024) **Total Giving:** • 2024 total giving: $270,075 in expenses • 2023 total giving: $227,600
Where does Susan & Robert Wislow make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois and New York, with a particular emphasis on the Chicago area.
What size grants does Susan & Robert Wislow award?
In 2024, Susan & Robert Wislow awarded 23 grants totaling $263K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Susan & Robert Wislow required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Susan & Robert Wislow reported a distributable amount of $2K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Susan & Robert Wislow's EIN?
Susan & Robert Wislow's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3496206. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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